Disposable nail catcher

ABSTRACT

A disposable nail clippings catcher for use with conventional nail clippers includes a generally hollow housing adapted to slidably retain the nail clipper. An adhesive coating or strip on the interior of the housing captures and retains the toenail and fingernail clipped fragments.

This invention relates to fingernail and toenail clippers and, more particularly, to disposable nail clipping catching and retaining devices that mount to nail clippers to prevent the scattering of nail clippings during the manicuring procedure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nail clippers are well known in the art commonly used in manicuring for cutting fingernails and toenails. During the use of nail clippers, fingernail and toenail fragments produced during use of the nail clippers are scattered about the area adjacent the user. To contain the fingernail and toenail fragments, retaining devices have been devised for preventing the nail fragments from falling or otherwise projecting from the nail clippers. These retaining devices include rubber or plastic enclosures which slip over the spring member of the clippers or around the open sides of the clippers to prevent the nail clippings from scattering about. These devices require frequent emptying during which the nail clippings may be spilled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The nail clippings retaining device of the present invention includes a slip-on cover to catch the nail clippings. The interior of the cover includes an adhesive layer to catch and retain the nail clippings. When the cover is removed from the clippers, the nail clippings are retained by the adhesive along the interior surfaces of the cover. The cover may be disposable so that the nail clippings need not be handled in order to be discarded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disposable nail catcher of the present invention shown with nail clippers.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the disposable nail catcher of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the disposable nail catcher of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a disposable nail catcher of the present invention shown with nail clippers.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the disposable nail catcher of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the disposable nail catcher of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sheet of adhesive nail retention strips.

FIG. 8 is a nail retention strip removed from the sheet shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a disposable nail catcher of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. Disposable nail catcher 10 includes a housing 11. The housing 11 includes a top 12, bottom 14, sides 16, and back 17. The bottom 14 and sides 16 of housing 11 may extend generally beyond the length of top 12 to form an open area 18 for insertion of nail clippers 20. Housing 11 is generally hollow and may narrow from the open end 18 to the closed end 22. Disposable nail catcher 10 is adapted to receive and releasably secure nail clippers 20.

The sides 16 and bottom 14 of housing 11 extend the length of clippers 20. The front edge of sides 16 extend generally evenly with the jaws 21 of clippers 20. The length of the top surface 18 accommodates actuation of the lever 23 of clippers 20 when the housing 11 is slipped onto the clippers 20.

The interior surface 24 of sides 16 may be coated with an adhesive layer 26 to capture and retain any nail clippings which come into contact with the adhesive 26. The adhesive layer 26 may extend from the top 12 to the bottom 14 or may be applied to the interior side walls 24 in a narrow strip or strips generally midway between the top 12 and bottom 14 running from the front open end 18 to near the back 17 and generally parallel to the top 12 and bottom 14 surfaces. The adhesive 26 may also be applied in a generally triangular shape with the apex of the triangle toward the back 17 and the base toward the open end 18.

Disposable nail catcher 10 may be made of heavy paper such as cardstock, light cardboard, thin plastic or rubber or may be made of a biodegradable material. Adhesive 26 may be any of a number of adhesive materials which remain tacky for an extended period of time and readily adhere to another surface such as a nail clipping when the adhesive is lightly contacted.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, an alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 30. Disposable nail catcher 30 comprises a generally tubular flexible cover 32 with an opening 34 for receiving the end of nail clippers 20 opposite the cutting jaws 21. Cover 32 may taper from opening 34 to closed end 36. When cover 32 is pulled over the end of nail clippers 20, the open sides of the nail clippers 20 are generally enclosed by the cover 32. The interior surface 38 of cover 32 may include a layer of adhesive 40 to retain nail clipping fragments which come into contact with the interior surface 38 of cover 32. Adhesive layer 40 may be arranged in longitudinal strips on the interior surface 38 of cover 32.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a sheet of adhesive nail retention strips is generally indicated by reference numeral 50. Sheet 50 is a wax-coated paper sheet. Adhesive nail retention strips 52 are releasably secured to sheet 50. Strips 52 have an adhesive layer on the front 54 and back 56 sides. Adhesive nail retention strips 52 may be used in place of the adhesive layers 26 and 40. Adhesive nail retention strips 52 are generally shaped to match the open sides of nail clippers 20. One or two adhesive nail retention strips 52 may be placed on the sidewalls 16 of nail catcher 10 or on the interior surface 38 of cover 32 opposite one another. Once the adhesive strips 52 are in place, the nail catcher 10 or 30 may be placed on the nail clippers 20. As the nail clippers are used to clip fingernails and/or toenails, the clippings may be trapped by the adhesive layer on the retention strips 52. To ensure that all clippings collected in the nail catcher 10 or 30 are trapped by the retention strips 52, the nail clippers 20 may be gently shaken from side to side so that the trapped clippings may contact the adhesive.

Thereafter, the nail catcher 10 or may be removed from the nail clippers 20. The nail retention strips 52 may then be removed and placed in a trash receptacle. 

1. A nail clippers receptacle for use with conventional nail clippers comprising: a hollow housing having a bottom, a pair of opposed sides connected to said bottom, a back connected to said opposed sides and said bottom, and a top connected to said opposed sides and said back, said opposed sides having a length to substantially extend a length of the nail clippers, said top having a length less than said length of said sides and presenting an opening in said top sufficient to allow actuation of the lever and the jaws of the nail clippers, said housing is sized to slidably receive the nail clippers therein and an adhesive coating on an interior surface of at least one of said sides, said adhesive coating adapted to retain nail clippings which come into contact with said adhesive coating.
 2. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is disposable.
 3. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is made of a paper product.
 4. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is made of plastic.
 5. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is biodegradable.
 6. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adhesive is arranged in a longitudinal strip along said interior surface of said side.
 7. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adhesive remains tacky for an extended period of time.
 8. A nail clippers receptacle for use with conventional nail clippers comprising: a generally tubular shaped housing having an open end for receiving the end of the nail clippers opposite the nail clippers jaws, a closed end having a transverse area generally less than the transverse area of said open end, and an interior surface, said housing having a length to substantially extend a length of the nail clippers, and sized to slidably receive the nail clippers therein, and an adhesive coating on said interior surface of said housing, said adhesive coating adapted to retain nail clippings which come into contact with said adhesive coating.
 9. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 8 wherein said housing is disposable.
 10. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 8 wherein said housing is made of latex rubber.
 11. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 8 wherein said housing is made of a paper product.
 12. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 8 wherein said adhesive coating is arranged in an at least one longitudinal strip along said interior surface of said housing.
 13. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 8 wherein said adhesive remains tacky for an extended period of time.
 14. A nail clippers receptacle for use with conventional nail clippers comprising: a hollow housing having a bottom, a pair of opposed sides connected to said bottom, a back connected to said opposed sides and said bottom, and a top connected to said opposed sides and said back, said opposed sides having a length to substantially extend a length of the nail clippers, said top having a length less than said length of said sides and presenting an opening in said top sufficient to allow actuation of the lever and the jaws of the nail clippers, said housing is sized to slidably receive the nail clippers therein and an adhesive strip on an interior surface of at least one of said sides, said adhesive strip adapted to retain nail clippings which come into contact with said adhesive coating.
 15. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 14 wherein said housing is disposable.
 16. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 14 wherein said housing is made of a paper product.
 17. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 14 wherein said housing is made of plastic.
 18. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 14 wherein said housing is biodegradable.
 19. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 14 wherein said adhesive strip is removable.
 20. The nail clippers receptacle as set forth in claim 14 wherein said adhesive strip remains tacky for an extended period of time. 